TME(US:TME) Bei Jing Shang Bao·2025-06-10 15:33Core Viewpoint - Tencent Music has announced a merger agreement with Ximalaya, which will make Ximalaya a wholly-owned subsidiary post-transaction, pending regulatory approvals and other conditions [2][3]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The transaction involves a total cash payment of $1.26 billion and the issuance of Tencent Music's Class A shares, amounting to 5.1986% of the total shares outstanding, and up to 0.37% of such Class A shares [2]. - Ximalaya will maintain its existing brand, independent operations, core management team, and strategic direction post-acquisition [2]. Group 2: Market Potential and Strategic Fit - The online audio industry presents significant market potential, with Ximalaya being the largest online audio platform in China, capturing 25% of the market share in terms of online audio revenue [3]. - Ximalaya's average monthly active users reached 303 million in 2023, ranking first among online audio applications in China [3]. Group 3: Complementary Strengths and AI Integration - Tencent Music's extensive music copyright and user base complement Ximalaya's strengths in audiobooks and paid knowledge content, creating a comprehensive entertainment platform [4]. - The merger is expected to enhance collaboration in AI technology applications, with both companies aiming to innovate and improve user experience [4]. Group 4: Financial Performance and Future Outlook - Ximalaya's revenue from 2021 to 2023 was reported at 5.857 billion, 6.061 billion, and 6.163 billion yuan, respectively, while it achieved net profits of 3.700 billion and 3.736 billion yuan in 2022 and 2023 [5]. - The acquisition is anticipated to alleviate Ximalaya's financial pressures and accelerate the commercialization of AI technology, leveraging Tencent Music's resource integration capabilities [5].